Why do cars still move forward even when you’re not putting your foot on the gas?
It’s an interesting question and the first one I asked my mom while learning to drive. Three years later, I still don’t know the answer. Maybe it has something to do with engines or motors or something boring like that. In fact, I don’t know much about what goes on with my car when I drive. I’m always too caught inside my head to pay attention to things like that.
My car is my happy place. It’s an escape from all the craziness, drama and tomfoolery going on outside its four doors. When I’m driving alone, I let myself wind down and think about anything I want. When I listen to music, I’ll ruminate on the lyrics and how they may relate to me. By taking the time alone to reflect on a song, I often get to know myself better. Taylor Swift sings about having secret gardens in her mind on her newest album? Hey, so do I, I tell myself. I also love to spend time alone. I wonder if that’d make a good Torch column.
Sometimes I’ll pass a place I haven’t been to in a while and reminisce about the last time I was there. I always pass the YMCA on the way to school and remember the theater rehearsals I did there in elementary school. Why did I even like theater? I’d ask myself. I was awful at acting. After some pondering and a few drive-bys, I came to my answer: I liked the attention. All the praise I received from the audience fulfilled me. But now that I’m older, I find meaning in other things and no longer feel the need to torture people with my atrocious acting.
Other times, I’ll find enjoyment in random things going on around my car, whether it be the poor landscaping on some houses’ lawns or outlandish paint color used on a few garage doors. If I can find amusement in Northbrook houses’ dreadful design choices, then I can find amusement anywhere. While I love having fun with my friends, being able to find fun by myself is a valuable skill that has proven quite helpful in my everyday life.
Just by relishing the time alone in my car, I’ve learned a lot about myself. Think about it. When’s the last time you’ve truly been alone? We’re always connected to our friends through school, activities and our phones. Even while alone in our bedrooms at home, our families are likely in the next room over. Being constantly surrounded by other people limits the time we have to connect with ourselves. And when that happens, our identity becomes muddled from all the interactions with others.
Living life without knowing who I am is a scary thought, so I implore everyone to try and reserve some time alone every day. Try taking a walk, meditating or driving like I do.See where your mind goes and ask yourself why it goes there. And then, enjoy the ride.